WPO announces WorldStar 2026 winners

The World Packaging Organisation has announced the winners of the WorldStar Global Packaging Awards 2026, with 234 winners selected from 481 entries representing 36 countries.

Japan led with 24 winning projects, followed by Austria with 21 winners, China and Germany tied with 18 winners each, Brazil with 17 winners, and Czech Republic and Slovakia with 12 winners.

'This record edition reflects the importance of WorldStar not only in recognizing the best packaging worldwide, but mainly in highlighting innovations driven by technology, sustainability, convenience, functionality and other themes that are essential for the global development of the packaging industry,' stated Luciana Pellegrino, president of WPO. 'Every year, we see a significant increase both in the number of entries and in the overall quality of the submitted projects. This is a powerful opportunity to raise packaging standards and to deliver concrete approaches to critical challenges such as food waste reduction, food safety and food preservation.'

The WorldStar Awards ceremony will take place on May 8, 2026, in Düsseldorf, Germany, during interpack, which runs from May 7-13, 2026. During the ceremony, WPO will also announce the winners of the Special Categories, including the President's Award, Sustainability Award, Marketing Award and Packaging that Saves Food Award.

'WorldStar has evolved into a powerful global platform that connects innovation, responsibility and market relevance,' commented Soha Atallah, WorldStar coordinator and WPO vice president of marketing. 'The diversity and technical sophistication of this year's winners clearly show how packaging is advancing in areas such as material efficiency, circular economy, smart technologies and consumer-centric design. These awards celebrate not only outstanding packaging, but also the vision and commitment of the professionals who are shaping the future of our industry.'

The complete list of winners is available at www.worldstar.org.